Moniliosis is a fungal disease that affects all fruit trees, including apricot, without exception. It is called spores of the fungus. In this article you will learn how these mushrooms can infect your apricots and how to fight them in order not to lose your orchard.
- Description and harm
- Signs of appearance
- Causes and pathogen
- Resistant varieties
- Healing and fighting
- Preventive measures
Description and harm
Garden trees are often sick, one of the most terrible diseases for them is a monilial burn. Yesterday you saw lush green trees resembling clouds, and today some branches are dry, as if they were freezing.
Many fruit trees are susceptible to this disease; apple, quince, apricot, cherry, pear and peach do not bypass the disease. Infestation of trees fungus is rapidly, first the flowers are affected, and then the whole apricot and its fruits. A negative consequence of the disease may be the loss of the crop, and then the entire tree. 
Signs of appearance
Monilial burn of fruit trees is also known as gray rot. The appearance of this disease can manifest itself as:
- the bark of the affected tree is overgrown with light-gray pads that are formed from fungal spores;
- foliage and branches become dark brown in color and dry up, over time new greens may grow on the tree, but it will last only until the autumn season;
- on a tree affected by the disease, yields will quickly decrease, only some fruits will survive, however, they will burst, rot and dry even green.
Causes and pathogen
The causative agent of this disease is the fungus Monilia, it is he who infects the tree through the pistil of a flower, then grows into a pedicel and through it enters the branch. In late spring, the disease manifests itself through the fallen ovary and flowers, it may not manifest itself everywhere. At the beginning of the summer period, branches will dry in large numbers, and then fruits.
Low air temperature in the spring apricot flowering - the most favorable condition for the development of monilial burn. Often, even experienced gardeners write off fallen ovaries and leaves only on cold weather and strong wind. But such symptoms can mean a terrible disease of fruit trees.
Also fungal disease can occur from cloudy weather and high humidity. A long period of cold spring weather can provoke a massive disease with monilial burn of fruit trees. To defeat your apricot orchard, just a few cold days at the end of spring or infected tree growing from your neighbors is enough.
Spores of the fungus enter the tree through damage and cracks in the bark and can winter there, as well as in the leaves and fruits that remain on the branches. Spores wake up when favorable conditions occur and begin to infect all surrounding plants. When the environment is warmer and wetter, the rot will begin to spread:
- by air;
- with raindrops;
- on parasites and insects.
Resistant varieties
Today in the places of sale of saplings you can find many varieties of apricots, allegedly resistant to this disease. Sometimes seedlings of such varieties offer to buy in specialized nurseries, however, for a great price. However, it is not worthwhile to believe the talk about the complete stability of these apricots to monilial burn, since there are no such varieties, and probably you are trying to lure the money.
However, it is worth noting that there are varieties of apricots, which have increased resistance to gray rot. That they should choose. Such trees are worth only a couple of times per season to treat the tool, and you get healthy fruit. In ordinary varieties, even regular spraying does not always give results.
Along with the new bred varieties, the old varieties bred at the beginning of the twentieth century, such as Early Melitopol and Tsyurupinsky pineapple, have increased resistance.
Healing and fighting
The fight against apricot moniliosis is very difficult, because even potent chemicals are not easy to deal with this disease. The main prevention is planting the most viable, disease-resistant varieties.
Flower rosettes and fruit branches (which will later be the source of the disease), affected by moniliasis, need cut to healthy apricot wood and burn, the same should be done with the affected fruits. This treatment procedure should be carried out immediately after the wilting of the leaves, as well as two to three weeks after flowering.
Apricot processing after the discovery of the disease may not be very effective, because part of the crop may be lost. therefore spend processing the garden before flowering and repeat after the flowers fall.
Gardeners are advised to use highly effective fungicides to treat this apricot disease. At low temperatures in early spring, for example, the chemical agent Horus will be effective. After that, you can apply other fungicides: "Gamair", Bordeaux mixture, copper sulphate, "Rovral", "Abiga-Peak".
These chemicals are very effective in combating diseases that cause fungal spores. The mixture should be checked before spraying on several separate branches. If the leaves appear gray necrotic spots, then this tool should not be used. You should also not exceed the concentration of the substance specified in the instructions.
Preventive measures
Experienced gardeners agree that modern fungicides are not so effective in combating a moniliac burn, therefore, it is better to protect the tree from rot beforehand by using preventive measures.Plant apricots are not too thickThe distance between the trunks should not be less than 4-5 meters.
In the affected apricot, treat the places of the trimmed branches with the garden pitch, the skeletal branches at the bottom of the tree and the trunk should be treated with copper sulphate mixed with lime or Bordeaux mixture. Regularly destroy between apricots overgrown with weeds. Should also dig up the plant stem after the leaves fall off. Before processing apricots, they must be cut so that the spraying process is most effective.
If there is a threat of infection by moniliosis burns in rainy weather (after flowering or at the end of flowering), apricots should be treated with a 0.3% solution of copper oxychloride (30 g per 10 l of water) or a 0.1% solution of Topsin-M (10 g per 10 l of water). Gardeners also recommend treating the plant with a 0.015-0.02% Skor solution (1.5-2 ml per 10 liters of water).
It must be remembered that proper care of the plant will significantly reduce the likelihood of its infection with spores of the fungus.
From our article, you learned what gray rot is, how it affects apricot trees and how to deal with moniliasis, if it arose in your garden. Buy varieties resistant to this disease and do not forget about prevention.
